The question that many Americans thought had been answered long ago is being asked anew as international tensions continue to rise and the US adopts a more assertive foreign policy: who would be recruited first in the event of a major conflict?
The National Archives estimates that between 1964 and 1973, 1.8 million men were drafted to support American troops in Vietnam; 17,671 of those draftees lost their lives in battle.
Vietnam veteran Joe Parsetich told Disabled American Veterans (DAV) in 2023, “We must honor all who answered the call of duty, whether they volunteered or were drafted.” “Their blood was as red as anyone’s, and their sacrifices were just as significant.”
Although there is now no active draft and the last man was drafted into the military under the Selective Service System (SSS) on June 30, 1973, the legal foundation to reinstate one is still in place.
Registration is required.
Regardless of their immigration status, almost all male U.S. citizens and male immigrants are obliged by federal law to register with the Selective Service within 30 days of turning 18. A guy may register after his 26th birthday, but failing to register at all is a felony that carries severe legal repercussions.
The official SSS website states that failure to register can result in “a fine of up to $250,000 and/or five years in prison,” in addition to other penalties including being disqualified from various government employment, job training programs, and federal student aid. Additionally, the process of obtaining U.S. citizenship may take up to five years for immigrants.
Boost your force power
The U.S. government would adhere to a formal legal procedure if the draft were revived. For the president to start conscription, the first step would be for Congress to change the Military Selective Service Act. The SSS will be activated and recruitment orders issued after Congress took action.
The issue of who would be drafted first becomes crucial at this point.
Induction is determined by lottery.
The instructions provide that a national lottery, a well-known, public event that would be live-streamed nationwide, would kick off the draft. The order in which eligible men would be called for duty is decided by randomly selecting their birthdays during this process.
The official instructions state that “those whose twentieth birthday falls during the year of the lottery are the first to receive induction orders.”
The draft extends outward if more service members are needed, enlisting men who are 21 years old, 22, 23, and 26 years old, after which they are considered to be above the age of liability. In that year, men in the 20–25 age range would be called before younger guys.
An individual would report to a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) for thorough physical, psychological, and moral assessments to see whether they are suitable for service once their lottery number was called.
After that, he either goes home or to boot camp.
No certainty of exemption
Crucially, in times of national emergency, norms are subject to revision. As the need for labor grew in earlier conflicts, standards pertaining to criminal past, education, and fitness were modified. Having a felony conviction, being overweight, or not having completed high school does not ensure exemption, especially if the military is experiencing a manpower shortage.
They’re planning to target men between the ages of 18 and 25 in World War III. In a YouTube video titled “Who Would be Drafted,” a former Army combat medic cautions, “If they get desperate, that is where people need to start worrying.”
“This implies that they will take you if you are overweight and don’t meet [physical training] requirements. They will take you if you have a misdemeanor or occasionally even a felony. They will accept you even if you don’t have a high school diploma.
Quick service delivery
Once approved, the Selective Service System is intended to function swiftly. “Selective Service must deliver the first inductees to the military within 193 days from the onset of a crisis and the law being updated to authorize a draft,” according to its own regulations.
This timeline shows how quickly a draft may become a reality for young Americans, rather than just a Washington legal ruling.
Men only
Only men are currently required to register, however in recent years, Congress has discussed allowing women to do so as well. Since no such legislation has been passed, young men whose 20th birthdays put them at the forefront of a national lottery that could drastically alter their life in a matter of months would be the first Americans recruited in any future conflict.
Even though there isn’t a conflict in the US right now that calls for conscription, recent military operations and growing geopolitical tensions have brought the draft back into the public eye. Additionally, the directive is already enshrined in law if a draft were to be triggered today.
If President Donald Trump forces the United States into war, how do you feel about a possible draft? Kindly share this tale with us and let us know what you think so we can start a discussion!
